Nemesia plant named &#39;INNEMAROPI&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant named ‘INNEMAROPI’, characterized by its upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; long flowering period; light purple-colored flowers that are sterile and fragrant; and good summer garden performance.

Botanical designation: Nemesia Vent.

Cultivar denomination: ‘INNEMAROPI’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION AND STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

This application claims priority to a Canadian Plant Breeders' Rights application filed on Apr. 15, 2019, application number 19-9764. There have been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one of ordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed Plant Breeder's Rights documents.

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant, botanically known as Nemesia Vent. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘INNEMAROPI’.

The new Nemesia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new semi-upright and freely branching Nemesia plants with good summer garden performance.

The new Nemesia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2015 in Gensingen, Germany of a proprietary selection of Nemesia Vent. identified as code number N 15 300-32, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Nemesia Vent. identified as code number N 07 105-36 tet2, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Nemesia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany in April, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Nemesia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Gensingen, Germany since April, 2016, has shown that the unique features of this new Nemesia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Nemesia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘INNEMAROPI’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘INNEMAROPI’ as a new and distinct Nemesia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. Light purple-colored flowers that are sterile and fragrant.     -   7. Good summer garden performance.

Plants of the new Nemesia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower sterility as flowers of plants of the new Nemesia are sterile whereas flowers of plants of the female parent selection are fertile.

Plants of the new Nemesia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower fragrance as flowers of plants of the new Nemesia are fragrant whereas flowers of plants of the male parent selection are not fragrant.

Plants of the new Nemesia can be compared to plants of Nemesia X hybrida ‘Fleurame’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,035. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Nemesia differ primarily from plants of ‘Fleurame’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1 Plants of the new Nemesia are larger than plants of         ‘Fleurame’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Nemesia are light purple in         color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Fleurame’ are pale pink,         lavender and purple in color.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Nemesia are more fragrant than         flowers of plants of ‘Fleurame’.

Plants of the new Nemesia can also be compared to plants of Nemesia X hybrida ‘Fleuripi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,851. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Nemesia differ primarily from plants of ‘Fleuripi’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Nemesia are larger than plants of         ‘Fleuripi’.     -   2. Plants of the new Nemesia have larger flowers than plants of         ‘Fleuripi’.     -   3. Plants of the new Nemesia flower more freely, continuously         and uniformly during the summer than plants of ‘Fleuripi’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Nemesia are more fragrant than         flowers of plants of ‘Fleuripi’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Nemesia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Nemesia plant.

At the top of the photographic sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘INNEMAROPI’ grown in a container and at the bottom of the photographic sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘INNEMAROPI’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 15.25-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada and under cultural practices typical of commercial Nemesia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 27° C. and night temperatures averaged 17° C. Plants were pinched when the rooted cuttings were planted and were eight weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Nemesia Vent. ‘INNEMAROPI’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Nemesia             Vent. identified as code number N 15 300-32, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Nemesia             Vent. identified as code number N 07 105-36 tet2, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven to ten days at             temperatures ranging from 24° C. to 27° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 10 to 14 days at             temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five             weeks at temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 18° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous annual; upright to             somewhat outwardly spreading; moderately vigorous growth             habit; moderate growth rate; freely branching habit; about             eight primary branches each with about three secondary             laterals developing per plant.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 7.9             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 23.6             cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 32.3 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 11 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Aspect.—Mostly upright to somewhat outwardly and curving             upright.         -   Texture and luster.—Ridged; sparsely pubescent; matte.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 144A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 143A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Bluntly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Dentate.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,             close to 143A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 7.6 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A. Color,             lower surface: Close to 147B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Bilabiate single flowers             arranged in terminal racemes; flowers develop acropetally             towards the apex; flowers face mostly outwardly; freely             flowering habit with about 18 flowers per inflorescence and             more than 744 flowers per plant during the flowering season.         -   Fragrance.—Strong; floral, pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, in Ontario,             plants flower from spring until autumn; flowering continuous             during this period; plants begin flowering about seven weeks             after planting rooted cuttings.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about three to four days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 16.1 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4.4 cm.         -   Flower size.—About 2.2 cm by 2.1 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Oval with a short spur. Texture and luster: Sparsely             pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 150D, becoming closer to             185D with development.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals; two upper and two lateral             petals fused at base to form an upright lobed and arched             upper or banner lip; lower petal modified into a large lower             lip with convex oval protuberance and short nectar spur.             Spur length: About 5 mm. Spur diameter: About 1 mm. Spur             texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Spur color:             Close to 145C. Length: Upper petals: About 1.4 cm. Lateral             petals: About 1.4 cm. Lower petal: About 1.4 cm. Width:             Upper petals: About 8 mm. Lateral petals: About 6 mm. Lower             petal: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Upper and lateral petals:             Obovate. Lower petal: Roughly cordate. Apex, upper and             lateral petals: Broadly acute to rounded. Apex, lower petal:             Emarginate. Margin, upper and lateral petals: Entire; not             undulate. Margin, lower petal: Entire; moderately undulate.             Texture and luster, all petals, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lateral petals:             When opening, upper surface: Close to N74D. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 186C to 186D. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 75A; thin streaks at base, close to 95B;             color becoming closer to 84B to 84C with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 75B to 75C; color becoming             closer to 76C with development. Color, lower petal: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 76A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to NN155D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close             to N80D; center, close to 76A; towards the base, close to             155C and at the center, close to 7A; color becoming closer             to 76C with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 76C to 76D; color becoming closer to 76D with             development. Color, throat: Close to NN155C.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Calyx star-shaped with five sepals             fused at the base. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 2 mm.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent; matte. Color,             upper surface: Close to N137D. Color, lower surface: Close             to 147A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: Mostly erect. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster:             Sparsely pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 137B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Angle:             About 30° from peduncle axis. Strength: Strong. Texture and             luster: Moderately pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Four per flower.             Filament length: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Filament color: Close             to NN155C. Anther length: Less than 1 mm. Anther shape:             Nearly round. Anther color: Close to 26B. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 25A. Pistils: Quantity: One             per flower. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Style length: Less             than 1 mm. Style color: Close to 158C. Stigma diameter: Less             than 1 mm. Stigma shape: Oval. Stigma color: Close to 155C.             Ovary color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Flowers of plants of the new Nemesia are             sterile and seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Nemesia. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Nemesia have     not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Nemesia plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Nemesia have been observed to     have good summer garden performance and to tolerate wind and rain     and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 30° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Nemesia plant named ‘INNEMAROPI’ as illustrated and described. 